USMC

Today Air Commodore Mike Kitcher, Officer Conducting Exercise Pitch Black, has officially wrapped up the exercise for 2018. With representatives from 10 different services across 8 of the 16 nations involved in the exercise, it demonstrates just how diverse Pitch Black has become since it’s humble two nation beginings back in[…]

Again Darwin has been entertained by a brilliant sunset display from the aircraft involved in this year’s Exercise Pitch Black. In addition to the traditional formation flypasts, two individual displays thrilled the onlookers watching at Mindil Beach in Darwin, Northern Territory. On Thursday evening the gathered crowds watched on for[…]

The Open Day at RAAF Base Darwin is one of two most anticipated public events held during the Royal Australian Air Force’s Exercise Pitch Black, held every two years. The open day, as announced by Air Commodore Noddy Sawade at the begining of the exercise, is set up at the[…]

The southern hemisphere’s premier air training exercise, the Royal Australian Air Force’s Exercise Pitch Black 2018, was officially opened today by Air Commodore Michael Kitcher at RAAF Base Darwin. With him was Air Commodore Noddy Sawade – who was also present at Pitch Black 2016. AC Kitcher welcomes the media[…]

Exercise Hamel is a large enduring biennial two-week event lead by the Australian Army, occurring on the even numbered years, designed to test, hone and evaluate war fighting skills of a brigade to confirm they are battle ready. It is also an opportunity for commanders to test their formations and[…]

EXERCISE Talisman Sabre 2017 (TS17) wrapped up at the end of August for another two years, here in Central Queensland. In the final week of the exercise, a media opportunity became available for Aviation Spotters Online (ASO) to attend and capture a small part of the operations on board one of[…]

USMC Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242, or VMFA(AW)-242 for short, arrived in Darwin back at the end of May 2017 for Exercise Diamond Storm, the Air Warfare Instructors Course (AWIC) and Arnhem Thunder. The “Bats” brought 10 F/A-18D’s with them, along with enough personnel and equipment to fulfill the two[…]

On a grey, overcast April afternoon, the final rotary aircraft deployed as part of this year’s Air Combat Element (ACE), in support of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 2017, pitched into Darwin, NT, Australia. The four MV-22B Ospreys from Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 268 (VMM-268) ”Red Dragons”, normally based at MCAS[…]

The first large group of Marines have arrived in Darwin this week from the “Thundering Third”, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment based out of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in 29 Palms, California. The deployment is just part of the United States Force Posture Initiatives which earlier in 2017 has already[…]

With the recent announcement that the United States Marine Corps will be expanding it’s fleet on deployment through Darwin in 2017, ASO has a peek at what aircraft types are coming and a quick look back at a few USMC aircraft from previous Darwin visits. For 2017, the USMC force arrives during[…]